Protection means for fluid pressure systems



July 29, 1952 E. E. HEWITT PROTECTION MEANS FOR FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEMS Filed March 20, 1947 Iigi Patented July 29, 1952 PROTECTION MEANS FOR FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEMS Ellis E. Hewitt, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 20, 1947, Serial No. 736,001 v 2 Claims. (01. -137110) This invention relates to fluid pressure control systems of the type embodying a fluid pressure controlled device, a fluid-pressure control device and means for conveying control fluid pressure between said .control device and said controlled device.

As an example, the throttle of a prime mover,

may be controlled by a fluid motor, the pressure of fluid in whichis arranged to be controlled by 2 v both of two pipes 4 and 5 and protection valve devices 2 and 3 associated, respectively, with said devices providing "control connections with said p1pes.' v

Each of the protection valve devices 2 and 3 may comprise a casing having two sections =1 and 8 secured together. The-casing of the ,protection valve'vdevice 2 is mountedon the casing of the'control valve device I, while the correspondan operators control device through the medium 10 ing casing of the protection valve device '3 is of aconnecting pipe, which, due to vibration, may mounted on the casing of the device 6 to be actubecome broken. It is undesirable that the conated or controlled. Clamped between the -two trol of the throttle of the prime mover be intercasing sections 13 and Sin each of the protection rupted due to a broken pipe, and the principal valve devices 2 andr3is'aflexible diaphragm valve object of the invention is therefore the provision 15 9 which divides the interior of the casing into ofia flu pr ss r c ntrol ystem for ensuring chambers'lfl'and H. Chambers llland II are in the control of the device being controlled in case constant open communication with each other of br akage of a fluid pressure control Pipe by way ofa passage having a branch which, thereto. in the protection valve device 2, is in constant his j c is'a i by he provision of two open communication with a control passage 13 nt l pip s b w n th control device nd the in the control valve'device .1. Similarly, chamdevice to be controlled and of improved means .asbers I0 and H in :the corresponding protection sociated with said devices which is effective in alve device 33,113 in constant open 001111111193- case 11f ea e of i r p p to maintain, tion through'the branch of passage '12 with a hro h e other P p Control Of the device controlpassa'ge'lfiq'in the devicewfi'tobe actuated beingvcontrolledor controlled. The control passages 13 andwl'll According to a further feature of the invention a for th purpose of permitting the flow of improved means is provided iorindioetins to or controlLfluid under pressure :between the control warning theoperetor of breakage of a control valve device I and the device 'B-to beactuatedrand pipe and of the location of such break. t n i g Another o je of he inv nti n i the Chamber H in the protection valve device ,2 sion of improved protection means ,for preventing is in normal open cQmmu-nication t t unnecessary loss'of fluid under pressure from a responding h b r II in the protection' valvie control system in case of a broken pipe in said device 3 by way of a passage :5 i the casing systemsection! of each of the two protection valve de- Other ob-lects and advantages of the system vices 'andthe pipe 4 which is connected tozboth will become apparent from the following more deof a .passages Similarly, th ch mb r 10 m tailed description thfileoi the protection valve device 2 is in normal .open In the accompanymgdrawmg; 1 is a communication with the corresponding chamber agrammatic sectional v1ew of a control system 40 It in the protection valve device 3 by Waycof the e q t form of the mVent1n; and 3 2 pipe 5 and a passage H5 'in the casing section 8 .is a similar-view of a modified form of the 'mf each of t two protection valve devices 2 vention. 1 and I 7 Description of 1 An annular rib n in the casing section a or The fluid pressure control system shown in each of the protection valve device's encirclesthe Fig.1 of the drawing comprises valve devices I, 6, end of .the passage 16 w h is in normal p one of which may serve as a device tobe actucommunication with the chamber Ill. The anated or controlled while the other may serve as nular rib l1 forms a seat for sealing engagement a control device, pressure of control fluid being 'With a valve portion l8 of the diaphragm valve transmitted throughthe medium of either one or '9 to close communication between the chamber I and the passage l6. Similarly, an annular rib IS in casing section I of each of the protection valve devices is provided for sealing engagement with the valve portion I8 to close chamber II from control pipe 4 by way of the passage I5. Stress in the diaphragm 9 normally supports the valve portion I8 substantially midway between and out of contact with ribs I1 and I9, as shown in the drawing.

The valve portion I8 of the diaphragm valve 9 constitutes a thickened central portion of the diaphragm in which there is embedded a member 23 which may be made of hard material. Member 20 is provided with a through axial opening 2| of small flow area.

Assume that it is desired to communicate fluid under pressure between the valve device I and the device 6, the fluid under pressure flows through the control device passage I3 or I4, the passage I2, the chambers I0 and II, past the diaphragm valve 9 and through the passages I and i6, in the protection valve device 2 or 3, to the control pipes 4 and 5 leading to the corre sponding protection valve device 2 or 3, wherein it flows through passages I5 and I6, chambers III and" II, and passage I2 to corresponding passage I3. I4 in the other device I or 6 to be actuated or controlled. It will be noted that in both protection devices 2 and 3 the pressure of fluid is equal on both sides of the diaphragm 9. To release fluid under pressure from passage I3 or I4 in either of the devices I or '6, fluid under pressure will be released from the corresponding passage I3 or I4 in the other device I or 6 whereupon fluid under pressure will be released from the former passage by way of both pipes 4 and 5 as will be evident from the above description.

Now assume that with the pipes 4 and 5 charged with fluid under pressure as'above described, one of said pipes breaks. A sudden reduction in the pressure of fluid in the broken control pipe 4 or 5 will then occur, and as a result, the pressures of fluid acting in chambers I0 and II on opposite sides of the diaphragm valve 9 in' both protection devices 2 and 3 will be suddenly unbalanced. The diaphragm valve 9 in each protection device 2 and 3 will therefore be displaced in the direction of the reduced pressure, which is toward the chamber I 0 or II,

whicheverone of said chambers is open to the broken control pipe 4 or 5.

In each protection device 2 and 3 the diaphragm valve 9 will be thus displaced until the valve portion IB seats on the'annular rib H or I9 thus closing direct control communication from the chamber Ill or II tothe break in the control pipe 4 or 5 by way of the passage I 5 or F6, respectively. Flow of fluid under pressure to the break in the broken control pipe 4 or 5 will then be restricted to the relatively small flow capacity of opening 2 I and this flow to or the resulting flow at tive seat H or I9, it will be noted that the area of said diaphragm valve within said seat will be subjected to substantially atmospheric pressure through the pipe break while the corresponding area at the opposite side of the diaphragm valve will be subjected to pressure of fluid in the unbroken control pipe, and the differential between these opposing forces on the diaphragm valve will hold said diaphragm valve seated against the seat IT or I9 to prevent undesired loss of the control fluid pressure from the unbroken pipe 4 or 5, thereby maintaining control through the unbroken pipe between the device 6 and the device I. It will be apparent that the protection devices 2 and 3 will operate as above described in case either of the control pipes 4 or 5 breaks to prevent undesired loss of fluid under pressure from the unbroken pipe so as to maintain through the unbroken pipe control communication between the device 6 and the device I, while the leak of fluid under pressure through the opening or openings 2I to the pipe break will give the audible indication of the broken pipe condition and its location. It will be appreciated that only one of the openings 2i is sufiicient to efiect audible indication of a broken pipe 4 or 5.

When either pipe 4 or 5 is broken and fluid under pressure is released from the unbroken pipe, the stress in diaphragm valves 9 in the pro- Description of Fig. 2

Now referring to Fig. 2, this modified structure comprises a device 'I, the control pipes 4 and 5, a protection valve device 32, similar to the protection valve device3 in Fig. 1, a signal device 33 and the'device 6;

The passage I3 in the valve device I divides into two branch passages 22 and 23 connected respectively to pipes 4 and 5. Chokes 24 and 25 are inserted in the outer ends of the passages 22 and 23 respectively, which chokes replace the protection valve device 2 in Fig. l, as will hereinafter be described. 1

The protection valve device 32 comprises a casing made up of two sections 34 and 35 between which is clamped a resilient diaphragm 36 which divides the interior of said casing into chambers 31 and 38. Chambers 31 and 38 are in constant open communication with each other by way of a passage 39 which has a branch which registers with the passage l4 in the device 6 to be controlled.

The casing sections 34 and 35 are provided with bores M and 42 arranged at right angles to the normal plane of diaphragm 3B and which open inwardly into the chambers 31 and 38, respectively. A passage 43 is provided in the casing section 34 opening from the bore M and connecting with the control pipe 4. A similar passage 44 is provided in the casing section 35 which connects the bore 42 with the control pipe 5. Two valve members 45 and 46 are centrally disposed in the chambers 31 and 38 respectively and secured to the diaphragm 36 on opposite sides thereof. A resilient annular valve ring 41 is mounted in a groove in the member 45 and disposed opposite to the open end of bore 4| to cooperate with an annular valve seat rib 48 which is formed in the casing section 34 around said bore. A similar valve ring 43 is provided in the opposite member 46for cooperation with a simila! rib 50 formed in the casing section f'35 and encirclingthe bore '42. Rods Hand 52 are integrally secured to the "valve-members 45 and- 45 respectively and projectcentrally therefrom through the bores4-l-and 4-2 aridaccommodati-ng smaller bores 53 and 54 which extend-there- ;from' throughthecasingsecti'onsffl and, 35. -Resili'ent sealing "rings 55' are provided in :grooves open to bores 53 and -5-4- for'cooperationwith the peripheral surfacesof rods 51 and 52. Springs 53 and .51, disposed in ithe bores 4| and 42, are interposed between the, valvemembers45 and 46 and the casing sections 34 and 35, respectively, for urging said valve members to a normal position in which both of the valve rings 41 and 49 thereof are disposed away from the seat ribs 48 and 50.

The signal device 33 may be of any desired type located wherever desired, and may be operated by the protection device 32 in any desired manner, but for illustrative purposes, comprises a rockable signal operating lever 58 which projects therefrom into an accommodating groove 59 formed in the projecting end of rod 5| for rocking movement by said rod upon movement thereof to effect a signal, as will be later described.

In normal operation of the system, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the passage l3 in the control device I, for example, it will flow from the passage l3 through the branch passages 22 and 23 and chokes 24 and 25 into the control pipes 4 and 5 in substantially equal amounts, whence said fluid under pressure flows into the protection valve device 32 through the passages 43 and 44, into and through the chambers 37 and 38 on opposite sides of the diaphragm 35, into the opposite ends of the passage 39 and thence to passage 14 in the device 6, in this case the device to be actuated and controlled. It will be appreciated, however, that the system may become charged with fluid under pressure, by flow from passage [4 to passage l3 without in any manner afiecting the operation of the protection apparatus subsequently to be described.

Normal control communication of pressure of fluid is thus established between the device I and the device 6 and the normal stress of the diaphragm 36 plus the opposing action of the springs 56 and 51 holds the diaphragm of the protection valve device 32 in a neutral position whereby the rod 5| and lever 53 of the signal device 33 is so positioned that the signal means controlled thereby indicates normal operation of the system.

Now assume that the control pipe 5 is broken, fluid under pressure then rushes rapidly from the protection valve device chamber 38 at the under side of the diaphragm 36 by way of the bore 42 and the relatively unrestricted protection valve passage 44 and into the broken pipe 5 to the atmosphere at the break. The sudden evacuation of fluid under pressure from the under side of the diaphragm 35 causes a preponderance of pressure acting on the upper side of said diaphragm which displaces it downwardly, seating the valve ring 49 attached thereto on the seat rib 50 and thereby closing communication between the broken control pipe 5 and the chamber 38 by way of the bore 42 and passage 44.

Normal control communication of pressure of fluid is maintained between the device I and the device 6, however, by way of the unbroken pipe 4 and the unseated valve ring 41. Again the pressures in the chambers 31 and 38 are sub- 'stantially equalized by *way "of. the constantly open communicating-passage '39. but due to differences in areas exposed to said pressures on top and bottom. of the diaphragm, and attached valve members, a resultant'force persists to keep the :valve ring 49: seated against, the rib .50.

While the above has been -occuring, the rod 5| has been pulled downwardly with movement of the diaphragm actuated valve 45 into contact with seat rib 50 thereby actuating the switch 53 which rides in the rod grooves '59 to render the signal means operative to- 'efiect a signal at some station which may be remote from'the broken pipe and thereby indicate'the fact that one of the control pipes is broken.

It will be understood that the protection valve system responds to isolate the broken pipe and to maintain control communication of pressure of fluid through the unbroken pipe when either the pipe 5 or the pipe 4 is broken in a manner as above described and the switch device 33 actuated by movement of the arm 58 will effect a signal to notify of the break.

At the same time as the above occurs, fluid under pressure escapes to the pipe break by way of the respective choke 24 or 25, said fluid under pressure blowing to the atmosphere through the break in the pipe. Such escape of fluid under pressure serves to aid in locating the break by producing an audible sound, emanating therefrom.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve device comprising in combination, a divided casing having a fluid pressure chamber between portions thereof, one fluid pressure opening to said chamber, and a second fluid pressure opening to said chamber in alignment with said one fluid pressure opening, a third fluid pressure opening, a first valve seat encircling said one opening, a second valve seat encircling said second fluid pressure opening, a resilient diaphragm disposed in said chamber intermediate said one fluid pressure opening and said second fluid pressure opening and clamped at its outer peripheral edge between said portions, a double valve formed integrally with said diaphragm and disposed in alignment with said first valve seat and with said second valve seat equidistant therefrom, said valve being provided with a central opening extending axially therethrough, and an orifice element embedded in said double valve restricting said central opening,

2. In combination, two devices each comprising a divided casing having a fluid pressure chamber formed between portions of said casing, a first fluid pressure opening to said chamber, a second fluid pressure opening to said chamber opposite to and in alignment with said first opening, a third. opening to said chamber. a first valve seat encircling said first opening, a second valve seat encircling said second opening, a resilient diaphragm clamped at its outer peripheral edge between said portions and disposed in said chamber intermediate said first and said second opening, and a double valve element formed integrally with said diaphragm and disposed in alignment with both said first and said second valve seat; a first fluid pressure conduit connecting the respective first fluid pressure opening of each of said devices one with the other; and a second fluid pressure conduit connecting the respective second fluid pressure opening in each of said devices one with the other.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date I Bayles Sept. 28, 1915 Lehmann July 8, 1919 Campula Nov. 11, 1930 Basta Aug. 9, 1932 Pray May 26, 1936 Yoder May 17, 1938 Benz Oct. 29, 1940 Overbeke May 9,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1938 Great Britain of 1942 

